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Notable Cases

Unfair Claims Practices Act tested by senior citizens

Jury Trial

In this case attorney Ed Ricci represented 180 senior citizens against Sentry Insurance. This group of senior citizens had purchased trip interruption insurance for trips they had planned to Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe and Israel. The tour operator who handled these "packaged trips"; went bankrupt and Sentry Insurance denied every single claim.

The handling of the matter was so rude that every claimant received the same form letter "your claim has been denied" and each letter was addressed to "Marvin" regardless of the individual's name.

Because the senior citizens were elderly with claims ranging from $229 to $1750, the insurance company refused to settle. Attorney Ed Ricci took on the case and represented the seniors on a contingency basis and no fees up front.

The case was resolved and the seniors received awards in compensation and punitive damages. The case settled while on appeal - 100 cents on the dollar, plus interest and attorneys fees because no one had ever tried a case under the Unfair Claims Practices Act. Ricci also drafted the first jury instructions for the case and set the precedent for how elderly consumers should be treated - fairly and honestly.
 

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